Art of making rubber soled shoes



4 Sheets-Sheet l 5 5 W mm ,8? k

S. J. FINN ART OF MAKING RUBBER SOLED SHOES Feb. 5, 1935.

Filed March 19, 1931 Feb. 5, 1935. s. J. FINN ART OF MAKING RUBBER SOLED SHOES Filed March 19, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 H H 1 H w n I Feb. 5, B935. 5. J. FINN 3,989,853

ART OF MAKING RUBBER SOLED SHOES Filed March 19, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 w v s s m &\ 57 57 17 23 47 18 57 Mink.

Feb. 5, 1935. s. .1. FINN 1,989,853

ART OF MAKING RUBBER SOLED SHOES Filed March 19, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 5, 1935 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE ART OF MAKING RUBBER SOLED SHOES Sidney J. Finn, Beverly, Mass., assignor to United of each mold will be a plane surface.

Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey- Application March 19, 1931,Serial No. 523,822

40 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in methods of making shoes, to the shoes produced, and to machines by which certain steps of the method may be conveniently carried out.

I In the manufacture of a certain type of shoes having uppers made usually in part or in whole of fabric, a sole blank or biscuit of unvulcanized rubber is placed in a mold; and the bottom of a previously lasted shoe is pressed against the sole blank to cause it to fill the mold and to be pressed against the bottom of the shoe, this pressure being maintained while heat is being applied to vulcanize the rubber. The bottom of a lasted shoe is curved longitudinally; and it has been considered necessary hitherto to make the upper portion or the top of the sole mold of a longi tudinal curvature to correspond exactly to that of the bottom of the particular shoe to which a rubber sole is to be vulcanized. It has thus been necessary to provide a mold with an accurately curved upper portion or top for each size and style of shoe; and the production of such a large number of molds, each of which must have the longitudinal curvature of its top very accurately formed, has involved so considerable an expense that shoes of the kind under discussion have not been made in large quantities.

According to the present invention considered in its method aspect, the insole of a previously lasted or otherwise assembled shoe is distorted, for example, by changing its longitudinal curvature; and a rubber sole is vulcanized to it while so distorted. The distortion of the insole distorts the upper and other parts which may be present, so that stresses are set up in the partly finished shoe tending to return it to its original shape. When, therefore, after the completion of the vulcanization the insole is freed, the stresses referred to react to impart longitudinal curvature to the rubber sole.

When this method is used, it is no longer necessary to provide molds the longitudinal curvatures of the tops of which correspond respectively to the longitudinal curvatures of the bottoms of the shoes with which they are to be used. Any suitable longitudinal curvature may be imparted to the top of a mold; and preferably the top In practic ing the method in the manner herein exemplified,

a partly finished shoe including, among other possible parts, an assembled upper andinsole, is first prepared conveniently by assembling the desired parts of the shoe upon a last and then removing the last. A rubber sole blank or biscuit is now placed in a sole-shaped cavity and the blank is forced 'to' take on the shape of the cavity and, at the same time, the overflow of rubber over the rim of the cavity is prevented, by forcing the bottom-of the lasted shoe against'the top of the sole blank or biscuit and against the rim of the cavity. The pressure described above distorts the insole, and with it other parts, thus setting up stresses in the shoe which tend to return it to its original shape. vulcanization now takes place; and then the pressure is removed to permit these stresses to return the shoe more or less to its original shape and thereby to impart longitudinal curvature to the rubber sole.

The degree to which the shoe will resume its original shape depends upon the constituents of the partly-finished shoe to the bottom of which the sole is vulcanized, and the degree of the distortion. For example, the assembled parts of the shoe may include an elastic shaping member of some kind, such, for example, as a shank piece consisting of a thin, perforated spring-steel plate attached to the bottom of the insole and normally curved longitudinally, which is flattened when the insole is flattened and tends very strongly, when the pressure upon it is released, to return to its original shape; or such a shaping member may be placed upon theunvulcam'zed sole blank before the bottom of the shoe is pressed against the blank.

In order to ensure a still better appearance in the finished shoe, whether or not an elastic shaping member is present, the shoe, after the vulcanization'of the rubber and while the vulcanized sole is still hot, may be reshaped, for example, by being relasted, and maintained in its reshaped condition for a suitable interval to permit the rubber to cool and set., There is thus provided a shoe having a longitudinally curved rubber sole the curvature of which is due in part at least to stresses caused by distortion of another part of the shoe; and it is possible to manufacture such a shoe so cheaply as to permit it to compete with or to displace the cheap grade of shoes commonly known as sneakers or tennis shoes.

'In order to facilitate the practice of the method, the invention also provides, considered in its machine aspect, improved apparatus by the use of which certain steps of the method including the vulcanization of the sole may be conveniently practiced.

According to one feature, there are provided means for exerting pressure upon the insole of a partly finished shoe to distort the insole, means for vulcanizing a rubber sole to the bottom of the distorted shoe, and means for thereafter removing the pressure. In the illustrated construction there is provided a mold for a sole blank of unvulcanized rubber having a substantially fiat top provided with a sole-shaped opening slightly smaller in outline than that of the finished shoe and a form for holding the shoe and for pressing the extreme margin of its bottom against the rim'of the opening. While the pressure is maintained, the sole is vulcanized, and thereafter the pressure 'is removed.

The pressure exerted by the form upon the shoe and through the shoe upon the unvulcanized sole blank is very considerable so that there is a strong tendency for someof the rubber to escape through the joint between the bottom of the shoe and the mold. In order to seal this joint secur before and during thetimethat the maximum pressure is applied, there is providedf according to another feature of the invention, means acting first to seal the joint securely before the maxi mum pressure, is reached. In the illustrative construction this :means takes :the ,formfof a thin flexible plate fastened to the bottom of the form along itslongitudinal middle and spaced around until, by the sufficient upward bending of the margin of the plate it contacts with the form andthe pressure becomes positive.

- Further features ..of the machine, including a,

turrethaving a heated plate'to receive a plurality of circularly arranged pressingmechanisms, and other details of construction willbe described as embodied in. an illustrative machine.

Referring nowto the accompanying drawings, Fig; 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a machine'by which'certain steps of the method zmay-be conveniently practiced; V e

Fig. 2'is adetail, partly in section, of two pairs ofthe toggle-levers of the pressing mechanism; r Fig. 3 is a plan'of a portion of the machine, the coverbeing shown in section; a

Figl l is a detail in elevation of part of'the mechanism for imparting intermittent rotation to the turret;

Fig; '5 's a vertical section through the forepart 101: the shoe, the form andthe mold showing the position of parts at the time that pressure is first being applied to press the margin of the bottom of thesho'e against the rim of the opening in the Fig. 6 is a similar section showing the final positi onfof -the same parts when maximum pressure .isbeing applied;

"Fig. 7 is: a side elevation of the parts in the same positions as they are shown inFig. '6, the

lower portion of ,theshoe and the form," and all ofthe mold and the sole being shown in vertical longitudinal section; I

, Fig. 8 is a detail in planofa portion of the flexi- ..p1,a ;1' v I 1, i.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of a partly finishe'dshoe ready to have a sole vulcanized to its bottom{ Fig. lis'a perspective of the form and its flexible bottom platein spaced relation; and I .lFi 'g. 11 isa perspective of a mold, the two top plates of whichhave been broken away to show more clearly the flat-topped rib on which they rest. I

Referring first to Figs. to 11, inclusive, an upper 15 (Fig. 9) and an insole 17 are assembled, preferably upon a last, with the margin of the upper laid over upon and cemented or otherwise fastened to the margin of the insole. The last is nowremoved. If an elastic shaping member or shank piece 18 is to be used, itwill preferably be made of spring steel and perforated at a plurality of places, as at 19, to permit the rubber of the sole to enter it and will be normally curved longitu'dinallyso asto aid in imparting to the rubbersole the desired longitudinal curvature,

This shaping member may, if desired, extend along substantially the whole length of the insole and is preferably fastened to the insole,conveniently by means of an eyelet 21 inserted after I the last has been removed. e

The previously lasted, or otherwise assembled,

shoe is now placed upon an iron form 23 the purpose of whichis to exert pressure upon theinsole of the shoe. This pressure is exerted. through a normally fiat spring-steel plate 25 which is fastenedalong its longitudinal middle to the longitudinal middle of the bottom of'the, form 23 by one or more screws 27'. The middle portion of the bottom of the form is -flat, but the margin of the bottom is curved upwardly, as best shown in Figs. 5, 6, '7 and 10. The margin ofthe plateextends beyond the margin of the. bottom of the form, its outline being coincident, orapproximately so, with that of the insole 17. In order to ensure that the margin of this plate shall press the margin of the insole at all points firmly against the rim of the sole-shaped opening in the top of the mold in a manner presently to ,be described, the margin of the plateis slotted at 31,

to provide a series of spring-tongues 33 all around its edge.

As thus far described, the form and the plate have been referred to as though they were each made of a single part. They are, however, each made of two parts, a. heel part and a forepart. It is desirable that the form be made in two parts so as to facilitate its insertion in and removal from a shoe. To this end the heel part has a pair of spaced upright stems 34 which are fastened tothe adjacent uprightthin flat portion of the other part of the form 23 by removablepins 35. After these pins have been removed, the heel portion may be swung in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. '7 and 10, and. pushed up out of the Way so that it will not interfere with the insertion of the form into a shoe. When the form has been thus inserted, the heel portion is returned to the position shown, and the pins 35 replaced, Because of this two-partconstruction. of the form, the plate25 on its bottom also consists of twoparts, as shown, the heelpart of the heel part of the form.

plate being fastened at or near its middle to the The mold (Fig, 11) comprises abase portion 37 having a rib 39 enclosing a sole-shaped opening, all points in the top of the rib being located in a common plane. In. order to provide an extension edge on the sole, two fiat plates 41, 43 rest upon the flat top of the rib and upon shoulders on pins 45 which are carried by the base 37 and the reduced upperends of which extend through holes in the plates. These two plates are cut away so as to provide between them a sole-shaped opening having a slightly smaller outline'than that of the bottom of the shoe to which a soleis to be at tached. When a-sole blank of unvulcanized rub:-

ber has been placedin the mold, and the bottom of the shoe has been pressed down, as will presently be'described, into its final position (Figs. 6 and 7) the edges-of these plates will extend into the crease between the upper and the sole. It is desirable, in order to produce a sightly crease, that the edges of these plates be thin; but since the plates must withstand a considerable amount of pressure, their thin edges should be strong. The plates are therefore comparatively thick, .but have thin beveled edges around the sole-shaped opening.

In using the apparatus described above, the previously lasted or otherwise assembled insole and upper, with or without an elastic shaping member, is placed upon the form 23 with its bottom coated with vulcanizing cementyanda sole blank or biscuit of unvulcanized rubber is placed in the mold. The form is thenmoved downward to cause the yielding margin of the plate 25 to pressthe extreme margin of, the bottom of the shoe against the continuous beveled. edge of the plates 41, 43 which forms the rim of the soleshaped opening of the moldenclosed by said plates. The position of the parts at this stage is indicated in Fig. 5 in which the sole blank is indicated at 47. The margin of the bottom of the shoe is pressed into contact with the rim of the sole-shaped opening in the plates; and the portion of the bottom of the shoe within the margin, which would naturally be convex widthwise, has been flattened by pressure against the sole blank. At this time the pressure is not great. As the form, however, is forced down into the position shown in Fig. 6, the pressure is greatly increased, the margin of the bottom of the shoe being pressed firmly against the beveled edges of the plates 41, 43 so as to seal the joint between the shoe and the mold against escape of rubber, the bottom of the shoe being bent into convex shape widthwise, and the rubber blank being caused to fill the mold. The mold is maintained hot at all times; and the shoe is held under heat and pressure until the sole is vulcanized.

When the shoe is forced into the position shown in Fig. 5, the insole is distorted and lies flat; and when it has been forced into its final position (Figs. 6 and 7) it is bent up slightly at its ends but is still substantially flat lengthwise, that is, a vertical plane passed through the insole longitudinally'would intersect the upper and lower faces of the insole in lines which are straight except at their extreme ends. The distortion of the shoe, including the elastic shaping member if that is present, sets up stresses in the shoe which tend to return it to its original shape; and when, after the pressure which holds the shoe in its distorted condition is removed, these stresses act to return the shoe more or less to its original shape and, at the same time, to impart longitudinal curvature to the rubber sole. The extent to which a distorted shoe will regain its shape and impart curvature to the sole depends upon the constituents of the shoe, that is, upon the materials of which the upper and the insole are made, and upon the presence or absence of an elastic shaping member. The final, shaping of the distorted shoe and the flat sole is facilitated, however, by the fact that the hot sole .fresh from the mold is comparatively flexible and will of itself retain more or less the curvature then imparted to it if that curvature is maintained for a sufiicient'interval. A strong elastic shaping member, if used, will return the insole approximately to its original longitudinal curvature and, being. vulcanized to the sole and to the insole, will impart to the sole the same curvature.

In case it is desired further to improve the appearance of the finishedshoe, the upper of the shoe with the hot sole vulcanized to its bottom, may be dampened, immediately relasted, and allowed to stand, for a suitable interval.

This added step, which may be practiced-whether or not an elastic shaping member is'present,

not only imparts a better shape to the upper but also improves the curvature of the sole by maintaining the hot sole in exactly the desired shape for a suitable interval to permit the rubber .to cool and set. i

Hitherto in the manufacture of shoes of the generaltype discussedabove in which a sole blank,-

is forced into a mold and vulcanized to the bottom of the shoe, it has been necessary to provide a sole blank of exactly the right volume or content, this volume or content being conveniently determined by the weight of. the blank. It is, of course, necessary to provide a blank having a content sufiicient, when pressure is applied to it, to cause it to fil the mold; but, if the blank was of greater content, more or less overflow of rubber has occurred which has necessitated a trimming operation after the sole has been vulcanized. With the present construction, however, a blank having a considerably greater content than is necessary for it to fill the mold may be used so that it is no longer necessary to provide a sole blank of an exact content or weight for a given shoe. Referring to Fig. 5, a sole blank of the right content to fill the mold-is, shown, said blank being shown in Fig. 6 after pressure has been applied to it through the form .23 and plate 25 to cause it to fill the mold. Theprese sure which is applied to the. form, as will presently appear, is applied through a heavy spring so that, if the sole blank had been of a greater content than the one shown, the middle portion of the blank, after the final pressure has been put upon it, would have been somewhat thicker than the one shown in Fig. 6. In such case, however, there would have been no escape of rubber because the yielding margin of the plate 25 would have held the joint between the shoe and the mold tight against escape of rubber. With the present construction, therefore, the roughly shaped sole blank, which is placed in the mold, need not be of such a content that it will, upon application of pressure, just fill the mold, but may be, to a variable extent, of a somewhat greater content. In such case the inside of the finished shoe will be slightly smaller than would otherwise be the case; but the excess rubber will be distributed throughout the whole upper surface, so to speak, of the sole so that the decrease in size of the inside of the shoe will be practically negligible. Just how much over-size a given sole blank may be without resulting in either overflow of rubber or unpractical decrease in the size of the inside of the shoe may be inferred from the fact that the sole blank for a No. '3 shoe, which is required to be of a weight of grams in order to fill the mold in the manner shown in Fig. 6, could be increased to grams without producing undesirable results. i

Thus far, in order to promote brevity, reference has been made merely to a rubber sole the top of which is substantially flat lengthwise as it lies in the mold during the vulcanization. It will be understood, of course, that the sole may include a heel if desired, as is shown in the drawings; and that the bottom of the moldmay have any desired contour; With regard to the term rubber sole blank or biscuit, this is mtendedto include a suitable mass of any suitable composition of rubber and other ingredients whichis capable of being vulcanized.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and-3,. a machine for conveniently pressing the bottom of the shoe against the mold and. the sole blank and for vulcanizing the blank will be described. Rotatably mounted on the pedestal 49 is a turret comprising a hollow plate 51. Steam is caused to flow through the interior of this plate from a steam pipe 53 connected to the interior of the plate through a coupling 55'whichpermits rotation of the turret, a suitable outlet, not shown, permitting escape of steam and water. This plate is pro vided'with a plurality of stations each of which has meansfor locating a mold'upon it and means for applying pressure through a form to 'a shoe.

Inasmch as these'stations are alike, only one of them will be described in detail.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3,

the station at which the operator stands will be described, this being the left-hand station'shown in Fig. 1 and the station at the bottom-of 3. The hot plate 51 has set into it two locating pins 57 to receive properly locatedholes in the bottom of the mold 37. The form 23 is fastened by two pins 59- to a hand lever 61 which is pivoted at one end at 63 to a yoke at the upper end of a vertical slide-rod 65 and is fastened near its other end by a removable pin 67 to a yoke at the upper end of a second vertical slide-rod 69. When the pin 67 has been removed, the lever may be swung into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 to permit ready removal from and replacement of a shoe'upon the form. In order to steady the form during its vertical movement, presently to'be described, the form 23 has a forward extension of its upper part to provide a guide portion '71 which straddles the upright rod 65. i

The vertical rods 65, 69, which thus carry the form, are slidable in vertical bores formed in the hot plate 51 and in a frame 73 which is fastened 'to the under side of the hot plate. Pivoted to the I left-hand end of the frame about the-alinedl axes of screws 75 are the upperends of two toggle levers Z7, 79, the lower ends of these levers being pivoted respectively at 81 and 83 to the upper end. of two toggle levers 85, 87, the lower endsof the two last-named levers being pivoted respectively about screws 89, 91 to a collar 93, which is fastened by the same screws to the rod 65. -The vertical rod 69 is connected at its lower end to two sets of toggle levers exactly like those to which the vertical rod 65 is connected. Two of these toggle levers are indicated respectively at 95 and 9'7 in Fig. 1, the upper lever (and the one behind it, not

shown) being pivoted to the frame 73 about the axis of the screw 99, the lowerlever (and th'e one behind it,-not shown) about the axis of the screw 101; and the two levers being pivoted together about the axis of the screw 103: ihe screw 101 (and the one behind it, not shown) serve to fasten the collar 105 to the rod 69. The knuckles of the toggle levers are conected by a rod 107 having a yoke at each. end; and two heavy tension springs 109 (only one of which is shown in Fig. 1) are connected at theirright-hand ends, asviewed in that'figure, to the right-hand yoke and at their left-hand ends to a small yoke 111 the stem of which passes through the frame 73 and is pivotcd at 113 .to a disk 114 which in turn'is pivoted at 115to an ear 1i7'forme-d on the fr'ame73. A

' In the po'sitionjof parts'shown in Fig." 1, the

springs 109 are under tension; and the form 23 has been forced down into the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7. It should be understood that the construction is such that the toggle levers are not completely straightened and thatthe spring is still exerting a yielding but very considerable pressure upon the form. The parts remain in this position until the rubber sole is vulcanized, whereupon the handle 119 is rotated through about180" 'to relieve the tension upon the springs '109and to'cause the form, with the shoe upon it,"to rise vertically from the mold. With regard to the' actionof the springs in straightening and breaking the toggles, these springs, as been stated, are heavy ones; and, henthey areextended as shown the drawings, thecoils'are only very slightlyseparated. -Whenithe handle 119 swung ina clockwise direction, as viewed at'the left-hand portion of Fig. 1', the efiect of the'first part of such swinging movement is to permit the coils of the springs tocontact with'oneanother,

while, during the latterpart of said swinging to permit the operator to remove the shoe and to place upon the form another shoe. When the form, with the shoe upon it, is swung into the dotted line position shown in' 'Fig. 1, the thin plates ll, 43 are carried with it andare removed by the operator and placed again in position on the mold. A sole blank or biscuit isthen placed in the mold, the hand-lever 61 swung back into the full-line position, the pin 67 replaced, and the hand-lever 119 swung into the position shown. The first efiect produced by tensioning the springs 109 is to move the form 23 with the shoe into the position'shown in Fig. 5, as has been de-,

scribed. Then, the springs 109 continue to contract, the form and the shoe are moved far ther down to a position, like that shown in Fig.

6, which depends upon the size or contentof the sole blank. Although, as has been statedabove,

the pressure which the springs 1'09 'exert"wh'e'n' under tension is veryconsiderable andmore-than is sufiicient to flatten a strong spring-steel shap-.

ing member, nevertheless this member does not with its free end penetrate the sole blank but is merely embedded in the top of the blank, substantially no rubber at all being forced between which the operator stands; and it is necessary,

therefore, to provide mechanism forrotating it at will tobring thenext station to that which has movement, the springs act as links to break the toggles; The pin 67 may nowbe removed andthe hand-lever 61 swung into the dotted line position been described into a position accessible to the I operator. Any suitable mechanism may be employed; and consequently the illustrated mechanism will be only briefly described. Fastened to the bottom of each frame 73 is a block 123 having formed in its under side a straight groove or track 125 which is radial to the vertical axis of rotation of the turret. "In Fig. 3 three of theseblocks are indicated for purposes of explanation as 123A, 123Band 1230. In the position of parts shown, a roll 127 (Fig. 3) at the outer end of an arm 129, which may be caused at will to make one revolution about its vertical 7 revolution of the arm 129, with its roll 127, is caused to take place in a counterclockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 3, the turret will be rotated just far enough to move each station upon it into the position previously occupied by the station ahead of it. As the arm 129 rotates, the roll 127 will move the station which corresponds to the block 123B into the position occupied by the station which corresponds to the block 1230. In doing so, the roll 127 will travel first outwardly in the groove in the block 123B and then inwardly until it leaves the inner end of the groove. The roll will then continue its rotation until it comes to rest in the inner end of the'groove in the block 123A which will then occupy the position previously occupied by the block 12313.

In order to impart, when desired, one revolution to the arm 129 any suitable mechanism, preferably of the non-repeat type, may be used. In the illustrated mechanism the arm 129 (Fig. 1) is fast to the upper end of a vertical shaft 133 having near its lower end a worm wheel 135 driven by a worm 137 on a horizontal shaft which has fast to it a large gear 139, said large gear being in turn driven by a smaller gear 141. This gear 141 is slidably keyed to a horizontal shaft 143 (Fig. 4) and has a friction brake disk 145 on its lefthand face which, in the position of parts shown in Fig. 4, is being held against a vertical plane face formed upon a stationary part of the machine. Loose on the shaft 143 is a continuously driven pulley 147 which may be caused to drive the shaft 143 by moving to the right a friction clutch member 149 which is slidably keyed to the shaft. The friction clutch member 149 and the gear 141 are heldin the position shown, in which the clutch is inoperative and the brake disk is operative, by a yoke 151 the depending stem of which is fast to a horizontal rock-shaft 153. Also fast to this rockshaft is an arm 155 which a tension spring 157 tends at all times to pull down.- The free end of the arm 155 carries a spring pin 159 to the lower end of which is pivoted the-upper-end of a toggle lever 161. A second toggle lever 163 is pivoted at its lower end to the frame of the machine and at its upper endto the lower end of the toggle lever 161 about a pivot 165 which forms the knuckle of the toggle. A link 167' is pivoted at one end to this knuckle and at the other end to an upright lever 169 which is pivoted at 171 to the frame of the machine and carries at its lower end a hardened block 173 which lies in the path of one end of an arm 175 the other end of which is fast to a long rock-shaft 177. treadle 179 is also fast to this rock-shaft. When the treadle is depressed, the arrn-175 swings the lever 169 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, thereby pushing the knuckle of the toggle levers slightly past dead center, whereupon the tension spring 157 holds the toggle in its straightened position.

Straightening of the toggle raises the arm 155,

thereby freeing the brake disk 145 and throwing in the friction clutch so that the pulley 147 begins to rotate the shaft 143, and, through it and the connecting gearing, to rotate the vertical shaft 133 to which the arm 139 which carries the roll 127 is fast. The hardened block 173 is pivoted to the lower end of the lever 169 and is provided with a lug which normally engages a lug formed on the lever. When, therefore, the arm 175 in its downward movement strikes the block, the lever 169 is swung in a counterclockwise direction. If, however, the treadle is immediately released as is usually the case and rises to the position shown under the influence of the usual spring, the arm 175 merely rocks the block 173 on its pivot and imparts no movement to the lever 169. The clutch is therefore of the non-repeating type.

In order to bring this arm to rest at the end of one revolution, the vertical shaft 133 (Fig. 1) carries a small cam 183 which, at the proper time, engages one end of a horizontal lever 185 pivoted at 187 to the frame of the machine and swings this lever about its pivot. The end of this lever remote from the cam 183 is connected by a short horizontal link 189 (Fig. 4) to the upper end of the lever 169 and thus swings said lever in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, to break the toggle, thereby disconnecting the friction clutch member 149 from the driving pulley 147 and causing the brake disk 145 to become operavs. The machine which has been disclosed is not claimed herein but forms the subject-matter of a divisional application, Serial No. 732,892, filed June 28, 1934.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The method of making rubber-soled shoes which consists in assembling parts of a shoe including an upper and an insole secured together in such manner as to impart longitudinal curvature to the insole, distorting the insole, and with it the upper, whereby stresses are set up tending to cause recovery of the bottom of the shoe to its original lengthwise curvature, vulcanizing a rubber sole to the distorted bottom of the shoe, and thereafter freeing the insole to permit the shoe to react under the stresses and to impart lengthwise curvature to the rubber sole.

2. The method of making rubber-soled shoes which consists in assembling parts of a shoe including an upper and an insole secured together in such manner as to impart longitudinal curvature to the insole, distorting the insole, and with it the upper, whereby stresses are set up tending to cause recovery of the bottom of the shoe to its original lengthwise curvature, vulcanizing a rubber sole to the distorted bottom of the shoe, and thereafter freeing the insole and reshaping the shoe.

3. The method of making rubber-soled shoes which consists in assembling parts of a shoe including an upper and an insole secured together in such manner as to impart longitudinal curvature to the insole, distorting the insole, and with it the upper, whereby stresses are set up tending to cause recovery of the bottom of the shoe to its original lengthwise curvature, vulcanizing a rubber sole to the distorted bottom of the shoe, and thereafter freeing the insole and relasting the shoe while the vulcanized rubber is still hot.

4. The method of making a rubber-soled shoe which comprises assembling parts of a shoe in cluding an upper and an insole in the approximate shape desired for them in the finished shoe, distorting the insole, and with it another part, whereby stresses are set up in the partly assembled shoe tending to return it to its original shape, vulcanizing a rubber sole to the distorted insole, and thereafter freeing the insole and reshaping the shoe.

5. The method of making a rubber-soled shoe which comp-rises assembling parts of a shoe including an upper and an insole in the approximate shape desired for them in the finished shoe, distorting the insole, and with it another part, whereby stresses are setup inthe partly assembled Shoe tending to return it to its original shape, vul- Qanizing a'rubber sole to thedistorted insole, and thereafter freeing the insole and relasting the shoe whilethe vulcanized rubber is still hot.

w 6. The method of making a rubber-soled shoe which-comprises assembling parts of a shoe including an upper and an insol'e'upon a last with thef'upiper attached to theinsole, removing the lastldistorting the insole whereby the lasted shoe isdistorted and stresses are set up in it tending to return it to its original; shape, vulcanizing a rfuhber sole to the bottom of the distorted shoe, andthereafter' freeing the insole to permit the shoe 'toreact under the stresses and toimpart longitudinal curvature to the rubber sole.

is '7, The methodof making a-rubber-soled shoe which comprises assembling parts of a shoe including an upper and an insole upon a last with thefupper attached to the insole, removing the last, distorting the insole, whereby the lasted shoe is distorted and stresses are set up in it tendin to return it toits original shape, vulcanizing condition while the rubber cools.

a-rubber 'sole t o the-bottom of the lasted shoe, and reshaping the shoe. 7 v

8. The method of making a rubber-soled shoe which comprises assembling parts of a shoe including an upper and an insole upon a last with the upper attached to the insole,'removing the last, distorting the insole, whereby the lasted shoe is *dis tortedand stresses are set up in it tending, to return it to its original shape, vulcanizing a rubber sole to the bottom of'the lasted shoe, and

relasting; the shoe While the vulcanized rubber,

is stillh ot. I

9. The method of making arubber-soled shoe which comprisesfassembling parts of a shoeincluding an upper and an insole upon a last with the upper fastened to the insole, removing the lastjdistorting the insole to cause its marginal portion to liesubstantially flat whereby the shoe is distorted andstresses are set upin it tending toreturn it to itsoriginal shape, vulcanizing a rubbersole to. the bottem of the distorted shoe, andthereafter freeing the insole to permit the shoe to reactunder the stresses.

10". The method'of making a rubber-soled shoe whichcomprises-"assembling parts of a shoe including, an upperand an insole upon a last with the margin of'the' upper fastened to the insole,

removing thglastdistorting the insoleto cause I its marginal-portion to "lie substantially flat wherebytheshoe is distorted; vulcanizing a rubber sole to the bottom of the distorted shoe, re-

, shaping the, shoe while the vulcanized rubber is 55 still hot, and maintainingthe shoe in its reshaped condition while the rubber cools.

11-. The method of making a rubber-soled shoe which comprises assembling parts of a shoe including an upper and an insole upon a last with the margin of the upper fastened to the insole, removing the-last, distorting the insole to cause its marginal portion to lie substantially fiat whereby the shoe is distorted, vulcanizing a rubber sole to the bottom of the distorted shoe, relasting the shoe while the vulcanized rubber is still hot, and maintaining the'shoe in its relasted 12. The method of making a'rubber-soled shoe which comprises assembling parts of a shoe including an upper and an insole upon a last with the upper attached to the insole with the insole curved longitudinally, removing the last, forcing the insole into a shape in which it is flat lengthwise,,wherebythe shoe is distorted and stresses aresetup inittending to return it to its original shape, vulcanizing a rubber sole to the bottom of the distorted shoe, and thereafter freeing the in sole to permit the shoe to react under the stresses.

13. The method of makinga rubber-soled shoe which comprises assembling parts of a shoe including an upper and an insole in the approxi- 7 izing a rubber sole to the bottom of the distorted: shoe, and thereafter freeing the insole to permit a the stresses to react.

14. The method of making a rubber-soled' 'shoe which comprises assembling an upper and an insole in the approximate shape desired for them in the finished shoe with the'insole curved longitudinally, straightening the insole longitudinally whereby the shoe is distorted and stresses are set up in'it tending to return it to its original shape, vulcanizing a rubber sole to the bottomof the distorted shoe, and thereafter freeingthe in-- sole to permit the shoe to react under the stresses and to impart longitudinal curvature to} j the rubber sole. I 1

15. The method of making a rubber-soled shoe which comprises assembling parts of a shoe including an insole, an upper, a normally 'curved' elastic shaping member, and a rubber sole blank, exerting pressure upon the insole, elastic member and sole blank in such manner asto'change the curvature of the elastic member and thereby set up stresses in it, vulcanizing the'sole blank,

and thereafter removing the pressure to permit the stresses in thefelastic'member' to react.

16. 'I-hemethod of making a rubber-soled shoe which comprises assembling partsof ashoe including "an; insole, an upper, a normally curved elastic metallicshaping member, and a rubber sole blank, exerting pressure upon the insole,

elastic member and soleblank in suchmanner as to reduce-the curvature of the elastic member and thereby set upstress'es init, vulcanizing the 1 sole blank, a atherearter removing the pressure to permit the stresses in the elastic member to react.-

17. Themethod of making a rubber-soled shoe which comprises assembling together parts of a shoe including an insole, an upper, a normally curved-elastic metallic shaping member, and a rubber sole blank with the elastic member between the insole and the'rubber sole blank, exerting pressure upon the insole, elastic member and:

soleblankin such'mann'er as to change thecurvature of the elastic member and thereby setfupstresses in 'it QVuIcaniZin'g the sole blank to the insole and the elastic member, and thereafter re- 4 moving the pressure to permit the; stresses in the elastic member to reactand thereby to im-- part curvature to thesole.

a 18. The methodof making arubber-soledshoe which comprises assembling together a. previous 1 1y lasted shoe having'an'insole curved'longitu I dinally, an elastic member also curved longitudie nally, and a sole'blank of unvulcaniz ed rubber,

exerting pressure upon the insole, elastic member and soleblank in such manner as to reduce the curvatureof the insole and the'elastic memfl ber thereby'setting up stresses init, vulcanizing' the sole blank, and thereafter removing thefpressure to permit the stresses in the elastic member Y to, react and thereby to impart curvaturef'to' the 1 sole.

19. The method of makingarub ergs eu shoei which comprises assembling together a .previous-- ly;lasted shoe having an insole curved longitudi= nally, an elastic member also curved longitudinally, and a sole blankofunvulcanized rubber, exerting pressure upon the insole, elastic member and sole blank in such manner as to straighten the insole and the elastic member thereby setting up stresses in them, vulcanizing the sole blank andthereafter removing the pressure to permit the stresses to return the insole more or less to its original curvature, and to impart the same curvature to the sole.

20. The method of making a rubber-soled shoe which comprises assembling together a previously lasted shoe having an insole curved longitudinally, an elastic metal shank piece also curved longitudinally, and a sole blank of unvulcanized rubber, pressing the insole, elastic member and sole blank together in such manner as to flatten the elastic member and the insole, vulcanicing.

the sole blank, and thereafter removing the pressure to permit the elastic member to aid in returning the insole approximately to its original curvature andto impart the same curvature to the sole.

21. The method of making a rubber-soled shoe which comprises assembling parts of a shoe including an upper and an insole in the shape desired for them in the'finished shoe with the insole curved longitudinally, locating on the insole an elastic shaping member normally curved lengthwise, distorting the insole and the elastic member by reducing their curvatures whereby stresses are set up in the elastic member tending to return it to its original shape, vulcanizing a rubber sole to the distorted insole and elastic member, and thereafter freeing the insole and the elastic member to permit the stresses in the elastic member to aid in returning the insole more or less to its original curvature and to impart cur vature to the rubber sole.

22. The method of making a rubber-soled shoe which comprises assembling parts of a shoe including an upper and an insole in the shape de sired for them in the finished shoe with the insole curved longitudinally, locating on the insole an elastic member normally curved lengthwise to correspond substantially to the curvature of the insole, distorting the insole and the elastic member by reducing their curvatures whereby stresses are set up in the insole and the elastic member tending to return them to their original curvature, vulcanizing a rubber sole to the distorted insole and the elastic member, and thereafter freeing the insole and the elastic member to per mit the stresses in them to impart curvature to the rubber sole.

23. The method of making a rubber-soled shoe which comprises assembling parts of a shoe including an upper and an insole in the shape desired for them in the finished shoe with the insole curved longitudinally, attaching to the insole an elastic member normally curved longitudinally to correspond approximately to the curvature of the insole, distorting the insole and the elastic member by reducing their curvature, vulcanizing a rubber sole to the distorted insole, and there after freeing the insole and the elastic member to permit the elastic member to aid in returning the insole more or less to its original curvature and to impart curvature to the rubber sole.

24. The method of making a rubber-soled shoe which comprises placing a rubber sole blank in a sole-shaped cavity, pressing the middle portion of the bottom of a lasted shoe against the blank to impart to it the shape of the cavity, simultanethe blank the shape of the cavity, simultaneously;

pressing the margin of the bottom of the shoe beneath the margin of the insole against the rim of the cavity to prevent escape of rubber between said rim and the upper of the shoe, and vulcanizing the blank.

28. The method of making a rubber-soled shoe, which comprises pressing the bottom of a lasted shoe against a rubber sole blank contained within a sole-shaped opening in a mold by pressing marginal portions of the shoe bottom beneath the margin of the insole against a substantially fiat rim on the mold to prevent escape of rubber between said rim and the upper of the shoe and pressing the remainder of the shoe bottom against the blank in the mold, and vulcanizing the blank while maintaining the pressure, thereby efiecting adhesion of the blank. 7

27. The method of making a rubber-soled shoe in the manufacture of which a mold having a. soleshaped opening to receive a rubber sole blank is utilized, which comprises pressing the middle portion of the bottom of a lasted shoe against a rubber sole blank contained within said opening while pressing marginal portions of the bottom beneath the margin of the insole against a substantially flat rim overlapping said opening to seal the joint between the shoe bottom and the mold against escape of rubber between said rim and the upper of the shoe.

28. The method of making a rubber-soled shoe which comprises assembling parts of a shoe, including an insole and an upper, upon a last with the upper attached to the insole, removing the last, pressing the margin of the bottom of the shoe beneath the margin of the insole against the rim of the opening in a sole mold containing a sole blank of unvulcanized rubber so as to seal the joint between the shoe and the mold against escape of rubber between said rim and the upper of the shoe, and vulcanizing the rubber blank.

29. The method of making a rubber-soled shoe which comprises assembling parts of a shoe including an upper and an insole in the approximate shape desired in the finished shoe, placing the shoe upon a sole blank of unvulcanized rubber in a mold having a flat top provided with a sole-shaped opening, pressing the margin of the bottom of the shoe against the rim of the opening to seal the joint between the shoe and the mold against escape of rubber, whereby the shoe is distorted and stresses are set up in it tending to return it to its original shape, vulcanizing the rubber, and removing the pressure to permit the stresses to return the shoe more or less to its original shape.

30. The method of making a rubber-soled shoe which comprises assembling parts of a shoe including an upper and an insole in the approximate shape desired in the finished shoe, placing the shoe upon a sole blank of unvulcanized rubber in a mold having a flat top provided with a sole-shaped opening, pressing the margin of the bottom of the shoe against the rim of the openthe middle portion of the bottom of the lasted,

' ing to prevent the escape of'rubber, whereby the 32. A shoe having a' curvedrubber sole and' an insole having stresses therein which tend to mainta'inand tend to increase said curvature.

33. A shoe having a curved rubber sole the curvature of which'is caused by stresses in another part of the shoe, said; stresses tending. to increase said curvature. W

34. A shoe having a longitudinally curved rubber sole'the longitudinal curvature of which is caused by stresses in another part of the shoe, said stresses tending to increase said curvature. 35. A shoe having a longitudinally curved rubber sole and an elastic metallic member having stresses therein which impart tothe sole its longitudinal, curvature and tending to increase said curvature. W

35 A shoehaving a longitudinally curved rubber sole and a spring steel shank piece having stresses therein which impart to the sole its Zioncurgature.

C32. The method of making a rubber-salad shoe which comprises assembling a shoe including aninsole and an upper upon a last, pressing ,gitiidinal curvature and tending to increase said weltless shoeagainst a rubberitsoie .blankjcontained in a cavity to impart tofithe. blank the shape of the cavity, simultaneously pressing the margin of the bottom of the shoe beneath the margin of the insole against the rim of the cavity to prevent escape of the rubber, and vulcanizing the blank. e

38. The method of making a rubber-soled shoe. which comprises placinga rubber sole blank iniaj sole-shaped cavity pressing the middle portion of the bottom of a lasted weltless shoe against.

the blank to impart to it the shape of. thecavity,

simultaneously pressing the margin of the bot tom of the shoe beneath the margin of the insolef against the rim ofrthe cavity toprevent'escape of rubber and vulcanizing the rubber blank;

39. The method of making a rubber-soled shoe whichcomprises placing a rubber sole blank in a sole-shaped mold cavity, yieldingly applying 'pres sure of a given degree upon the margin of the in sole of a lasted shoe to press the margin ef the bottom of the shoe against the rim of the-cavity,

and then applying a stronger pressure against the middle and margin of the insole. r t;

The method of making a rubber-soled shoe which comprises placing a rubberisole blank in a sole-shaped mold cavity, yieldingly applying pressure or" a given degree upon the margin of c the insole of a lasted shoe to press the margin of the bottom of the shoeagainst' therim of the cavity, and then yieldingly applying a stronger pressure against the middle insole. a Y

' .5; SIDNEY J. FINN;

and margin of a the 

